Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)

Description of substance: Colorless liquid with a characteristic odor.

LEL: . . 0.8% (10% LEL, 800 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 1,500 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the known human lethal concentration of 1,878 ppm [Albaugh 1915 in Jacobs as cited by AIHA 1971], the mouse LC50 of 1,620 ppm, and the reported effects to human subjects after several hours of exposure to 750 to 1,000 ppm [Lehmann and Flury 1943 as cited by ACGIH 1971]. AIHA [1967] reported that 1,878 ppm for 1 to 4 hours is definitely toxic to man [Jacobs 1949]. The effects of turpentine on the eyes and central nervous system at concentrations above 1,500 ppm might impede escape in the event of respirator failure.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:

Lethal concentration data:

Species

Reference

LC50

LCLo

Time

Adjusted 0.5-hrLC (CF)

Derived value

MouseRat

Sperling & Collins 1964Sperling et al. 1967

29,000 mg/m312,000 mg/m3

———-

2 hr6 hr

8,212 ppm (1.6)4,885 ppm (2.3)

821 ppm489 ppm

Lethal dose data:

Species

Reference

Route

LD50(mg/kg)

LDLo(mg/kg)

Adjusted LD

Derived value

Rat

Skramlik 1959

oral

5,760

—–

7,136 ppm

714 ppm

Human data: Exposure of volunteers for several hours at 750 to 1,000 ppm resulted in irritation of the eyes, headache, dizziness, nausea, and acceleration of the pulse [Lehmann and Flury 1943]. The lethal concentration has been reported to be 1,878 ppm [Albaugh 1915].

Revised IDLH: 800 ppmBasis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for turpentine is 800 ppm based on acute toxicity data in humans [Lehmann and Flury 1943] and animals [Skramlik 1959; Sperling and Collins 1964]. Also, this value is 10% of the lower explosive limit of 0.8%.